The Memorial Day Traffic Survival Guide

Vacations…they're the best, aren't they? If you're getting away this Memorial Day weekend, chances are high you're going to be on the road. For a long, long time. Longer than you expected. Longer than you—and your stomach, and your kids, and their stomachs—can handle. You know what we're talking about: miles of highway without a rest stop in sight, no napkins in the glove compartment, and a traffic jam that (always, inevitably) lasts through dinnertime. But having the proper food stowed away can solve even the most pressing, uh, vehiculinary dilemmas, so let's do a little preemptive trouble shooting, shall we?

Challenge: The car floor is covered with things you think you could still probably actually eat and drinkSolution: No. Throw all that stuff away first.

Challenge: You are stuck in the car Solution: This brings up a couple of interesting subchallenges. For one, if you'll be cruising through a mealtime, what're you to do for eats? Sandwiches are easy to eat on the go (but they're nicer to eat at a picnic table rest stop—just sayin'), and a big takeout container of a grain salad is filling and packs easily. Don't feel like bringing dinner with you? Skip the chain restaurants in favor of mom-and-pop diners or greasy spoons. There at least the food's got character.

Also, if your trip is longer than four hours, you've got food safety issues to start pondering. If that's the case, get a cooler and stock up on ice packs. Or make things easy on yourself and circumvent the food issues. Instead of bagels with cream cheese, do bagels with nut butters. (Here's how to make your own nut butters.) Skip the yogurt and snack on homemade savory granola instead.

Challenge: The damn messSolution: Uh, ____ don't pack messy food? Kidding! Look, we get it: Seemingly innocuous foods can turn on you, dribbling into your lap like a popsicle on a July day at noon. (Related: Don't pack popsicles.) As a general rule, vegetables transport better than fruits—celery sticks, sliced carrots, and cucumbers are easier to snack on than, say, ripe peaches and watermelon.

Avoid foods with sauces and salsas, but that doesn't mean skimping on flavor. Sautéeing hardy greens or chard ahead of time and packing them in to-go containers (don't forget the fork!) will shake up the sandwich routine, and it's a healthy way to start what's sure to be a weekend of decadence. Have wet wipes at the handy, and don't forget separate bags for your trash and recyclables, so you don't arrive at your destination with a dirty car you'll have to clean later. (See challenge no. 1.)

Challenge: You can't take pit stops every 20 milesSolution: If you're leaving in the morning and can't do without your cup of coffee or tea, drink it well in advance of leaving; it's such a bummer to realize you need to stop five minutes onto the highway. And while you should definitely stay hydrated, do it smart: Sip on water or iced herbal tea. Caffeine, while it perks you up, is also a diuretic, so if you guzzle coffee and Oolong, you may find yourself frantically seeking rest stops more often than you'd planned.

And don't forget about the water content in the foods you're eating! Fruits tend to be made up largely of water (cantaloupe is just over 90%), so those can quench your thirst and fill your belly—win-win! Spinach is around 91% water, so a green juice may serve you well in the hydrating snack category as well. For something lighter, hydrating, but still nutrient-dense, we love the green machine juice with apples, cucumbers, mint, and spinach. And while there are mixed feelings about red bell peppers here at the Bon Appétit offices, they apparently function well as a hydrating snack (if you like that kind of thing).

Challenge: You're traveling with picky eaters.Solution: Fussy children (and adults) may be pacified with boxed macaroni and cheese at home, but things get a little stickier on the road. Don't leave things up to chance: Ask them in advance what they'd like to eat, and then make it. (And if they don't like it in the car, break out the iPad and Frozen.) It doesn't hurt to have a few easy-to-love snacks packed away, either—think muffins, crackers with cheese, and granola bars.

Challenge: You're hangry.Solution: This is a tough one. When you're so hungry you become irritable and start to snap at everyone around you, you're not only hungry—you're a danger on the road. Preempt hanger. Eat a well-balanced snack beforehand, or keep one close at hand that you can munch on without pulling over. Food that's high in protein will keep you fuller longer, but there's also something to be said for food that's fun to eat, like togarashi popcorn or Bon Appétit's very own party mix. There is something very soothing about eating Bugles in a car. Frankly, Bugles are soothing anywhere you eat them.